Basketball in Africa

24 July 2006

KENYA : Coop bankers made to fight by the Pirates

Story by CAXTON APOLLO

Former national basketball league champions Co-operative Bank had to battle from behind to beat unlucky Kenyatta University Pirates 84-69 in their return leg tie at Nairobi's Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday.

Pirates, put up much pressure on the experienced Co-op Bank from the start only to go down in the final quarter.

The students had applied full court press with Griffins Ligare and Paul Ojuoga delivering the goods to lead 30-24 in the first quarter.

Co-op Bank, who clobbered 'Terrorists' 70-40 last weekend, had to quickly change the game strategy to go up 17-13 in the closely contested second quarter.

Pirates continued to play according to coach Waringo Gitau's instructions, maintaining a 43-41 half-time lead. On resumption, Co-op Bank raced to a 20-14 advantage following consecutive three-pointers from George Kamau and John Karonji.

However, Pirates defence surprisingly collapsed in the last quarter through experienced Peter Kiganya's efforts as Co-op Bank outscored them 23-12 to carry the day.

Strathmore University suffered their third consecutive defeat in the Division One league when Java Warriors beat them 69-57. Coach Mike Muriithi's Java Warriors' overpowered the students from the start to lead 41-29 at the breather.

UGANDA : Falcons meet on

FALCONS basketball club, that won the men’s title at the 2004 Falcons International tournament, have a chance to reclaim it as the week-long invitational meet starts at Lugogo today.The Falcons-organised tournament held to celebrate the team’s 12-year anniversary, has attracted 15 foreign teams from Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Seychelles and DR Congo and eight local teams.Six teams from Kenya, Burundi and Rwanda arrived in Kampala yesterday ahead of the event that will see Rwanda’s APR go all out to defend the men’s crown as Lady Bucks fend off competition to retain the women’s title.“We are also expecting teams from Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania as well as Seychelles later today,” tournament organiser Henry Malinga said.The tournament has been boosted by telecommunications giants MTN, the Daily Monitor, Rwenzori mineral water, Security Group and Asiatic sports.Elsewhere, Falcons were forced to rally from a seven-point first quarter deficit before registering an 87-67 victory over Livingstone.Sam Obol led Falcons with 18 points as they recorded a ninth victory in ten matches played and recovered pole position on the Yello Max table standings.

NIGERIA : Potters, Peaks qualify for Vmobnile B/ball final

By Patrick Omorodion

Kaduna — Niger Potters and Plateau Peaks have clinched the tickets to play in the final of the Vmobile Premier Basketball League.

The Potters’ boys, won all their three games to guarantee easy and quick passage into the eagerly awaited dunk slam final against Peaks, whose only loss was against Niger Potters.Potters, who look good for the top crown, secured maximum points after beating the Savannah Conference regular leaders 78-56.

Like in Lagos, where Atlantic Conference leagues, Union Bank were ousted, Kano Pillars suffered a similar fate in Kaduna, losing their first match against Peals, 72-86, an outcome which proved to be crucial in deciding the fate of Union Bank and end their dream of playing in the final of the Vmobile Basketball league. So, all is set for the finals running from July 28-30 between Potters and Peak, at Lagos, as both sides battle for the ultimate basketball trophy in the land.

22 July 2006

NIGERIA : Playoff: Peaks, Potters off to a good start

The Savannah conference leg of the 2006 Vmobile premier league playoffs got off to a good start Friday at the sports hall of Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna with Plateau Peaks basketball club of Jos and Niger Potters basketball club of Minna recording their first win.

Plateau Peaks, with inspiration from the duo of Stanley Gumut who was later adjudged the most valuable player of the match and Job nelson put up a five-star performance against Kano Pillars basketball club wining three of the four quarters the encounter lasted.

The Peaks was a delight to watch on a weather friendly afternoon with good ball handling and terrific three-point shots from Nelson who played as both point guard and shooting guard wining the first quarter 21-16 points and extended the lead in the second quarter which ended 28-20 points but surrendered the third quarter 15-18 but such effort was not good enough to save the day for the Kano team who missed most of its shots from the line.

The fourth quarter was played on a more relaxed note by the Jos players who were sure that the encounter is as good as being won and lost, ending the quarter 20-18 for a cummulative scoreline of 86-72 points.

The day's second game between Niger Potters and Bauchi Nets was more dramatic as the Nets played the encounter without a bench.

Though gaining the sympathy of the fans who cheer them ceaselessly but that could not save them from the hands of the Potters players who purnished their gut for daring to keep the gain within a digit difference all through the first three quarters (54-47) as at the close of the third quarter of (19-16), (22-19) and (13-12).

On resumption of the fourth quarter it was Potters all the way as the five-man Nets team could not match the Potters stamina for stamina losing by a whopping 32 points margin of 87-55 points of (33-09).

Action continues today at the same venue with two matches billed for the day, as the two losing teams of Friday Bauchi Nets take on Kano Pillars at 2pm while Peaks and Potters will attempt outwitting one another when they go each other throat in an encounter dubbed the star-match of today.

UGANDA : Falcons in action

FORMER league champions Falcons Athletics return to the courts for their MTN basketball league second round opener against Livingstone at YMCA today.

The five time title winners finished the first round on top of the Yello Max table with 8 unbeaten runs for 17 points from 9 games.

A win today will ensure Steven Omony's men regain their top slot from defending champions Marines whose win over Miracle last weekend gave them a one point lead.Falcons also will use it as a build up for their Invitational tournament that tips off on Tuesday at Lugogo.Relegation troubled Livingstone have been boosted with the return of reliable forward Martin Okello who has been working in Kigali, Rwanda.

Okello together with Simon Otine and Pascal Alule will give Falcons an athletic evening at the Wandegeya courts. The Makerere side remains the only team that has forced all league giants into high scoring games in the league.In the other games, Yello Go table leaders UCU Mukono play MBC Rocks while KCC Lions face Kyambogo Flippers at Makerere pool court.

KENYA : Play-Offs Race Gaining Pace

The battle for a place in the 2006 post-season basketball league play-offs intensifies when Co-operative Bank lock horns with Kenyatta University Pirates at Nairobi's National Stadium today.The match starts at 4 pm.

A total of seven return leg Premier and Division one league matches are lined up at the same venue today and tomorrow.

After a registering a morale boosting 70-40 win over University of Nairobi's Terrorists last weekend, Co-op Bank should approach today's tie against Pirates with caution.

Last weekend's two points saw the bankers climb the ladder from fourth to second spot on the table standings with 14 points. Co-op Bank, who have started the second leg well, have won six matches and lost two.

Experienced professional Peter Kiganya, Collins Gaya and John Waruru are expected to play a key role in Co-op Bank's hunt for the two important points. Pirates, who joined top competition this year, have been exhibiting a good game lately which saw them surprise regional champions KCB Lions whom they pipped 83-82 in double extra-time.

Coach Waringo Gitau of Pirates, who has always had a good game plan this season, will no doubt parade gifted shooter Griffins Ligare, tireless blocking star Paul Ojuoga and Emmanuel Sande to prove wrong the highly motivated Co-op Bank.

In today's women's highlight, Telkom will entertain new-comers Yana Club at 2pm. Telkom top cream Joyce Makungu, Caroline "Majeng" Achieng and Caroline Arato sent former regional champions Sprite Storms packing 62-41 last weekend.Should the trio maintain their top form, Stella Opondo's Yana will have an uphill task of trying to register a fourth win. Telkom are second on the seven-team standing with 11 points while Yana lie fourth with nine points.

In Division One Solomon Ochieng, David Maina and Morris Ogolla will lead Telkom against Radhi Ndalu's Nairobi Pentecostal Church from 12pm. Strathmore University, who lost two matches in a row last weekend, have yet another mountain to climb against Java Warriors at 10am.

Tomorrow, KCB Lions have an easy date with International Christian Centre from 4pm. Lions failed to roar in their last game going down 83-82 to Pirates in double extra-time. Coach Faustin Mgendi's ICC were in Nakuru for the first time where hosts Nakuru Club beat them 66-62.

ANGOLA : National Team Play Slovenia in Friendly

The Angolan national team of basketball, preparing for the Japan 2006 World Cup, will play today in Serbia a friendly match with a mixed of Slovenian players.

This will be the first game of the African champions, who kicked off on Tuesday their training camp in Europe. Afterwards, the players of coach Alberto de Carvalho "Ginguba" will travel to Spain, where they will participate in an international tournament with the national teams of China, Serbia and host nation.

Apart from Europe, the national team will go to Qatar, to hold matches of control.

21 July 2006

TANZANIA : Stone Town confident ahead of basketball championship

By Burton BrownZanzibarStone Town basketball team have said they want to halt Dar es Salaam’s victorious run in the national basketball championship, which starts at the National Indoor Stadium later this month.The team are currently training seriously in Stone Town to prepare for the event’s challenges.The team’s head coach, Abdullatif Juma told The Express that the training assured him of an easy task of beating Dar es Salaam Region, the current cup holders.“We have good and ambitious players in our team. The presence of a professional player, Abdallah Ramdhani Dulla, adds a dimension to my team’s capability,” he said.However, the coach said only Mwanza Region is giving him a slight worry since the region owns players who play much as a team, in contrast to Dar es Salaam, which rely much on individual skills.Ever since Dulla became the Isles’ first professional basketball player, the sport has made rapid development in the Isles. They have managed to form the Stone Town Team, which is one of the best teams in the country at the moment.

UGANDA : KIU entertain Nabisunsa

By Gloria Kyomugisha

Nabisunsa 56 Amazon 38TodayKIU Rangers v Nabisunsa

SAFINA Nakato contends that the crowds at today’s MTN basketball league match-up between KIU Rangers and Nabisunsa at the former’s courts will be guests to a passionate exhibition the Rangers are determined to win.

To the Rangers’ captain, the disposition element in this fixture arises from the fact that to the KIU team, a second consecutive loss in the space of four days is unacceptable.

The league debutants thumped Nabisunsa 85-53 during their first round encounter in May, a result that coach Nimrod Kaboha hopes to even better in the second round.

UGANDA : Falcons Tourney Set

TWO new regional basketball sides from DR Congo have confirmed participation in the third edition of the Falcons invitational tournament that tips off on July 25 at Lugogo Indoor Stadium.

The two, Bukavu and Goma forwarded their confirmation to the organisers early this week. Club President Mr John Ssimbwa told Daily Monitor yesterday the two are expected together with other invited teams.

" They sent to me an e-mail confirming they will be taking part," Ssimbwa said.

Meanwhile, Kenyan giants and league champions Ulinzi Warriors together with women side Sprite Storms have also confirmed.

Ssimbwa also said that three teams from Seychelles, two from Burundi, Tanzania and the men's defending champs APR from Rwanda will also take part.

According to the arrangements, foreign teams will arrive on Sunday, while the draws will be made on July 24.Foreign sides will pay US$20 per player, while the local teams will pay Shs165,000 as participation fees.

The local sides invited are Kyambogo W arriors, Charging Rhinos and league champions Marines.

MAK Sparks, KCC Leopards, defending champions Lady Bucks and local league queens A-I Challenge are the local ladies' teams.

NIGERIA : Vmobile League: Carnival Ushers Teams into Kaduna

Carnival, road show and a lot of fanfare have been lined up to usher the Vmobile Premier Basketball League teams into Kaduna for the second leg of the 2006 play off series. The Savannah Conference teams are billed to open their contest tomorrow at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in kaduna. By the arrangement on ground, the organisers of the league have put on ground programmes that will liven up the entire city of Kaduna into a carnival-like atmosphere all through the days of the competition which run from Friday through Sunday. "The road show team left Lagos on yesterday for and so by tomorrow (today) they should start work. The idea is to senticize the people of Kaduna; drum up awareness for the event and above all make the competition a lively one for every family," a member of the championship organising team told THISDAY. When the Lagos leg of the event held last weekend, some road shows were also done in Lagos and the organisers equally allowed students to enjoy the ambience of the championship venue. Kano Pillars who are expected in Kaduna today will battle Niger Potters, Plateau Peaks and Bauchi Nets for the two tickets available to the conference. But as the Vmobile League play off hot up in Nigeria, the managers of the national team camping in Las Vegas, USA have cried out to Sports Ministry for funds. A member of the team explained that cash crunch could derail some of their plans. "We are billed to move to Turkey for a tournament but I don't know how far we can go now with that unless we get more funds. "I know the Sports Ministry was supposed to assist in this camping process but we are yet to hear from them money-wise," he said.The team nicknamed The Tigers are preparing for the 2006 FIBA World Championship holding in Japan from August 19 to September 3. Whereas the senior players in the USA are craving for cash the handlers of the junior team in Lagos getting ready for the African Championship holding in South Africa next week are craving for attention. The assistant coach of the team Masai Ujiri hinted that the players deserved more attention. "May be nobody believes in this team yet. That is why nobody is talking about them except for those camping in the USA and the league play-off here. But these players deserve a better deal," he jocularly pleaded.The Junior Tigers would battle the rest of Africa for a place in the 2007 championship fixed for Canada.

19 July 2006

UGANDA : Nabisunsa hosts Amazon

A cheering home crowd is expected to tip the scales this evening when home girls Nabisunsa take on Amazon Rhino in a mid-week MTN League fixture.

Fresh from a sensational 42-35 win over rivals Crane High on Sunday, the school girls play their first home league game after a devastating 51-66 loss to record champions Lady Bucks last Wednesday.

A 48-47 first round win over Amazon will be a psychological inspiration for Emmy Ssamanya's young side. However, Amazon's Angela Lokidi believes the first round loss was due to bad luck.

"We had a full board training yesterday (Monday) and we are aiming at avenging the bad loss we suffered at the hands of A-I on Sunday," Lokidi said.

Amazon, which currently occupies seventh position will rely on Lydia Mulwana, Hadijah Shaban and Lokidi for the points.Nabisunsa's Mariam Tamale has made a tremendous improvement in ball passing and steady dribbling and her combination with Angela Namirimu, Joyce Zalwango, Halima Nabusimba and Charlene Kalungi will give the visitors some hard moments on court.

Meanwhile, Kampala region schools champions Crane High School retained their Kabaka Schools title after a 26-19 final win over St. Mary's Kitende on Sunday at Lubiri High courts. Tournament MVP Joshua Karugaba was instrumental with his accurate passing.

NIGERIA : Under 18 Team

The trio of coaches Adeka Dauda, Masai Ujiri and Emma Oga were busy drilling the assemblage of Nigeria under 18 male team Tuesday at the Sports Hall of the Lagos national stadium ahead the Fiba Africa Championship billed for Durban, South Africa from July 28 through August 6.

The eighteen players currently battling for the twelve man team were seen taking offense and defense instruction from the coaches.

Some of the players who have vowed to retain the cup for Nigeria if selected and go on to do well at the FIBA under 19 world championship coming up next year in Vancouver, Canada.

Some of the players who are still sweating out daily for a place in the team includes, Oseer Ikyaator, Goerge Ehiagwina, Ehime Orukpe and Frank Ben-Eze, Seyi Ahmed, Mohammed Bukar, Seyi Ayodele, Michael Uwa-Okoro, Mbaram Omori, Daniel Dawodu, Farouk Oyelade, Solomon Alabi, among others.

The team is expected to jet out to South Africa three days before the commencement of the championship which is to produce Africa two representative at the world met.

Nigeria have continually dominate the rest of Africa in the under age men championship and is not prepared to surrender that leadership status to other countries in the continent reason why it is putting everything into the short time that the team has to prepare.

Head coach, Adeka Dauda said the joy of everything is that most of the youngsters have taken part in many competition this year, from the national sports festival to the premier league and the Lagos City league.

NIGERIA : Vmobile League - Kano Pillars Set for Kaduna

By Pius AyinorLagos

With less than 72 hours to the first jump ball in the Savannah Conference of the Vmobile Premier Basketball League play off, the Kano Pillars are set for the event and may arrive the venue by tomorrow. The team coach, Sani Ahmed announced the date when he spoke with THISADY yesterday.

"As concerning our arrival date, I believe the Team Manager has the detail information on that. He is fully in charge there. But from my understanding we should be in Kaduna on Thursday," Coach Sani said as his team began their evening workout at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano yesterday.

The Pillars led the Savannah Conference into the play offs of the Vmobile Challenge last year and have continued on that note this time through the regular season but may face quite some tough time in the play first stage as some of their players are in camp in Lagos for the African Junior Men's Championship. The championship, which has Nigeria as defending champions, would hold in South Africa at the end of the month.

"We didn't have a choice as the players are on national assignment or otherwise we need them.

"We have prepared this far without them and we continue on that note and prepare well to fill up any gap that their absence would have created as it were. Whichever way we'll cope without them. The focus is to play and qualify and that is what we are working on irrespective of the situation."

The Kano Pillars had three players in camp but the third player was called on Monday alongside some other players who began the camping last week in Lagos.

At the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna Pillars would battle for the tickets against Niger Potters, Plateau Peaks and Bauchi Nets. Only two teams will qualify for the final stage in Lagos fixed for the end of the month. The Atlantic Conference play off was concluded last Sunday in Lagos with Ebun Comets and Dodan Warriors scaling through.

But even as the teams warm up for the final stage in Lagos, there are strong indications that the Final-4 play off billed for Lagos from the 28th of the month may not start on the advertised date but be moved forward by one week. The shift may have become necessary following the pressure mounted by the clubs on Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) for the use of their players for the final stage in Lagos. Some of the teams expected to play the final-4 of the combined conferences have their players in the Junior national team who would be playing the African championship in South African by that period."Most likely the Final-4 in Lagos may move by just one week."

"The situation we are in suggests we move the competition a little forward for better outing at all levels," Richard Agu, the Atlantic Conference league co-ordinator said in Lagos.

Comets and Lagos Islanders held on to their players during the Atlantic Conference play off even though the Dodan Warriors players were in the national camp. The players only joined after the last games on Sunday.

18 July 2006

UGANDA : Ace Afidra spurs KIU past hapless Warriors

By Gloria Kyomugisha

ALL-STAR Isaac Afidra helped Kampala International University open their second round positively with a 73-58 drubbing of Kyambogo Warriors in the MTN basketball league.

Afidra scored a demolishing 24 points and taunted Warriors’ go-to-guy Ronnie Kasewu into committing an unsportsmanly foul as KIU avenged a 76-69 first round loss to the Makerere University side and captured a fifth win in ten games.

The game that witnessed a lot of drama saw KIU’s Emma Baguma foul Kasewu in the first quarter as he drove to the hoop. A furious Kasewu then elbowed Afidra who had mentioned a few words to him.

Kasewu was awarded an unsportsmanly foul to which he retaliated by insulting the referee, who then ejected him from the match leaving Warriors to struggle on.

“We got disorganised after our point guard Ronnie was ejected in the first half and failed to get our game on track,” said Stephen Okias.

The victory saw KIU climb to seventh place and Warriors drop from third to fifth on the Yello Max conference standings.

At Makerere University Pool court, a huge 31 points and five spot dunks effort from new signing Bernard Okumu kept the Vegetarians rolling with a 92-65 defeat of Blue Jackets.

Sandra Munduru and Vicky Nassolo nailed 11 points apiece for MUK-Sparks as the side posted a 46-41 victory over KIU Rangers, halting their eight-game winning streak.

SEYCHELLES : Shocker ...

THE second round of the Men division 1A League registered a shocker on Sunday night at Victoria Gymnasium as five-man army Angels took the sting out of Premium Cobras to throw the league championship wide open.After Premium Cobras’ 78-68 first round win over defending champions PLS Hawks which gave them the edge over their main rivals, team manager Roy Collie told Sports Nation that “our task has become more difficult as all our opponents play tough against us.”

This turned out to be true as an under-strength Angels never lacked the will to win.

Steven Servina, Darren Lesperance, Norcy Agathine, David Boniface and Daniel Dodin left Victoria Gymnasium satisfied after a job well done. They had beaten the mighty Premium Cobras and at the same time made the likes of Lenny ‘Bad’ Aglaé, James Beier and Nigerian Mohamed Ozegya Buhari look ordinary.

“It’s a morale-boosting win. Everything worked well for us and we led all the way.

During the course of the match, I asked my players to enjoy the game but to stay focus.

Hopefully the other members of the team will get back to training and help the team,” coach James Joubert told Sports Nation.

Angels did not allow Premium Cobras too many second shots and offensive rebounds, thus turning possession into baskets, especially on one-on-one situations two win all fours quarters 25-24, 23-20, 22-19 and 16-13 and the game by a 10-point margin.

Sharp-shooter Servina contributed almost half of Angels’ points – a season-high 42 including three 3-pointers and 14 free-throws.

Angels’ two other players who scored in double digits were Lesperance with 17 points and Dodin with 16.

With two more points garnered with the win – only their third in eight games, Angels have brought their points tally to 11, but they stay fifth in the eight-team standings, while leaders Premium Cobras have 14 points after six wins and two defeats.

In fact, two other teams – PLS Hawks and SMB Razorback – are also locked on 14 points.

17 July 2006

Ebun Comets basketball club have regained their reputation as a strong force in the country’s basketball as they made a clean sweep of games played at the Atlantic Conference of the Vmobile Premier Basketball League decided at the Indoor Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos between Friday and yesterday.

Also yesterday, youthful Dodan Warriors stopped the ambition of league leaders, Union Bank of Lagos, winning 87-79 to pick the second ticket of the Conference for the finals. Warriors who lost their second game on Saturday 64-71 to Comets thus finished second following their 70-68 victory over Islanders on Friday.

Comets started their return to the top with an overtime blow out of the troubled Union Bank of Lagos, pricked by some management decisions, with a slim 78-76 victory after the bankers had stream-rolled into a 15 point lead during the game.

With 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Ayo Bakare boys took the lead with a three pointer that left scores at 62-61. They however failed to wrap up the game before it went into overtime after they had ended the quarter at 65-65.

On Saturday Comets secured the ticket for the finals even with a game left as they handed Alex Owocho tutored Warriors a 71-64 defeat while Islanders who also lost their first match to Dodan Warriors 68-70 on Friday thus missed the play-offs even before their game against Comets yesterday which ended 47-43.

Fans who thronged the venue of the play-offs yesterday were shocked to see Union Bank who had promise of lifting the League crown flounder when it mattered most. Signs that they may not do much at the play-offs showed last Friday when the players uncharacteristically trekked into the stadium without their official bus.

The Vmobile Play-offs train now moves to the Savannah Conference in Kaduna where four clubs, Kano Pillars, Plateau Peaks, Bauchi Nets and Niger Potters will battle for three days beginning Friday for the remaining two tickets for the finals next month.

BAYA and Premium Cobras are soon to lose their foreign players whose next move is the United States of America (USA) in search of greener pastures.

Ugoh did not play a part in Baya’s 77-43 win over Cascade Bullets on Saturday July 15 but sat on the substitutes’ bench.

The tall Nigerian player leaves the country this coming Thursday to pursue his studies in Political Science at the Cougars of the Redlands Community College.

“If I get the chance to play basketball in the USA, I’ll do it. But my priority is to pursue my studies,” he told Sports Nation on Saturday.

The 20-year-old player, who arrived here in March 2005, added that “Baya are like my family. I’ll definitely come back and pay back the good things they have given to me.”

So far, Baya, whose first foreign recruit was Kenyan Dennis Opiyo in 2004 only to off-load him months later, have not chosen a replacement for Ugoh and it is not certain if they will bring in another foreign player.

Ugoh is set to meet fellow Nigerian Benjamin Adayehi who left Premium Cobras in July last year for the same college.

A defensive presence for Premium Cobras since his acquisition in April 2004, centre Kolawole is presently in Mauritius to get his paper in order and finalise his move to the USA.

During his time with Premium Cobras, Kolawole has won the President’s Cup, Men division 1A League, Seychelles Basketball Federation (SBF) Cup in 2004 and the Curtain-raiser tournament, Indian Ocean Club Championship (IOCC) and Top-of-the-table competition in 2005.

He won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) title in this year’s IOCC although Premium Cobras failed to defend their crown.

Mohamed Buhari Ozegya was acquired from Akure-based Ebun Comets in 2005 after his compatriot Adayehi left for the USA.

Buhari, 20, was a gold medallist with Nigeria in the African Under-21Championship in Senegal in 2004 and played on the Nigeria team who participated in the Under-21 World Basketball Championship in Argentina in 2005.

It is not clear when Kolawole and Ozegya are to leave the team, but what is certain is that Premium Cobras will be bringing back Abdallah ‘Dulla’ Ramadhan.

Known for his individual and stylish play, the Tanzanian was signed by Premium Cobras in 2001 but was off-loaded in March 2004.

UGANDA : Blick shines for Marines

NKUMBA-Marines continued their dominance over Miracle in the MTN basketball league after another outstanding show by Norman Blick. Blick scored 28 points and hauled down 12 rebounds to lift Marines to their opening second round victory.

Salim Ali, Carroll Bisereko and Boniface Okello scored eight points apiece for Marines, who have won all six of their encounters against Miracle since 2004.A lay-up by Salim Ali gave Marines the lead for good at 56-54 with four minutes left in the game. Two jump-shots by Blick and Okello sealed the win at 64-60.

All-Star players Ben Komakech and Chris Kyebambe scored 20 and 14 points respectively for Miracle, who committed seven consecutive turnovers and squandered a 3-point lead early in the fourth quarter.

THE MTN basketball league second round action continues today with several games in Kampala and one in Gulu.Women defending champions A-I Challenge face seventh placed Amazon Rhino in a must win encounter for both sides.

The regional club bronze medallists are in fourth position, having collected 15 points from the 9 first round games.A win will keep them close to KCC Leopards, Lady Bucks and KIU Rangers for a play offs slot, only if Rosette Meya, Viola Akuma and Ali Mavita regain sharpness at the hoop.Amazon badly need a win to recover from the seven defeats they suffered in the first round.

Elsewhere, Kampala International University (KIU) Rangers take on Makerere Sparks, while Nabisunsa face rivals Crane High.

In the men's games, KIU hope to put their first round troubles behind them when they play third placed Kyambogo Warriors, while Sadolin Power are up against hosts Gulu Hawks.

LEAGUE defending champions Nkumba-Marines will today open their MTN basketball league second round campaign against Miracle at the YMCA courts.

Marines, who finished the first round in second place on 16 points behind Falcons on the Yello Max Conference standings, will look not only to improve their goal average, but also overtake Falcons for pole position after today’s match-up.

The Entebbe-based Marines will be boosted by the return of 2005 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Norman Blick and forward Carroll Bisereko, fresh from competing in the Africa University Games in South Africa.

Miracle, on the other hand, will look to fast improving point guard Ben Komakech who not only made the trip to South Africa for the University meet, but also led Miracle to a fifth-place round one finish after their 62-52 routing of giants Charging Rhinos. Komakech will team up with Raymond Bukenya, Allan Masaba, Chris Kyebambe, Allan Kampororo and James Kirabo as they look to pull off another upset and collect maximum points.

Elsewhere, Charging Rhinos embark on a four-hour northward trek to Gulu for a date with Murchison Hawks at the Caribbean court.

14 July 2006

NIGERIA : Vmobile B/ball Play offs: Union Bank, Comets Clash

The much awaited play offs for the Vmobile Premier Basketball League jump-starts today with so much of battle cry in the air. And the expectations of basketball lovers are high as the opening game at the National Stadium; Lagos is a high level one with Vmobile Challenge champions Union Bank taking on former several league champions Ebun Comets. The Union Bank coach, Emma Okolo who was online to THISDAY yesterday said his team was looking confidently at the very final stage of the play off series.“The promise to our supporters is victory. We have worked very hard and there is nothing else to think of except victory,” he said as his team prepared for yet another work out at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Sports Complex. The play offs became tighter with the adjustment of the format to final-4 instead of the original plan of final-6. By implication, it means that only two teams each will qualify from the Atlantic and Savannah Conferences when this first stage rounds off. For the Union Bank team already banking on victory, the road becomes bumpier with the quality of opposition from the likes of Comets and Dodan Warriors. “We understand their rating,” says Emma “but we can’t be worried by all that. I believe we have seen quite a lot of the teams and their players and we are not expecting anything so much extra-ordinarily new besides what we all went through during the regular season. “But all the same, at this stage it demands utmost seriousness since it is a knockout stage, There is no second chance for any team and we are very much conscious of that.” The Bankers managed to qualify for the Vmobile Challenge finals last year but went to win the trophy in Abuja and their opponents this afternoon have won the Premier severally since it began in 1995. No expert can predict the outcome of this match. The first game is billed for 2.00pm while Dodan Warriors will play as the home team against Lagos Islanders in the second game billed for 4.00pm. And like the first game, it is also quite a tough one. The Warriors won the two games both teams played in the regular season. THISDAY also learnt that a lot of schools have confirmed their willingness to be at the National Stadium through the two stages of the play offs in Lagos. Vmobile has invited 40 schools in Lagos for the events. By early yesterday some had called the Vmobile agents to confirm their participation and amongst them were Dansol High School and the Indian Community School

TANZANIA : TM Rockets beat Don Bosco

By Burton BrownDar es SalaamTM Rockets became the new EMIMA Basketball League champions after beating Don Bosco Upanga in the final held over the weekend at the National Indoor Stadium, Dar es Salaam.The defending champions, Don Bosco could not believe that they had lost the title even though TM Rockets won convincingly 45-27.TM Rockets’ determination to clinch the title began to show in the second quarter when they established a 19-7 lead.Morris Okinda was the top scorer with 19 points followed by his team mate Christian Mrema who bagged 11 points. On Don Bosco’s side, Patrick Ngome was the top scorer with 11 points.In the Under 14 event Don Bosco retained their title after thrashing JKT 24-12 while in the girls’ discipline Ally Hassan Mwinyi School took the title after beating Don Bosco 10-3.Organised by EMIMA, a non-governmental organisation that deals with education and sports in collaboration with Dar es Salaam Basketball Body (BD), this year’s tournament was much improvement as both the Under 14 and Under 18 categories produced wonder players.

UGANDA : Nabisunsa fall to Lady Bucks

MTN Basketball women's league top scorer Frances Nabulobi was in double figures again with 31 points and 10 rebounds as Lady Bucks defeated hosts Nabisunsa girls on Wednesday in a league game.

The school girls had a poor start, trailing 30-12 at half time but the cheering home crowd geared them to a 21-16 third quarter recovery through three points shooting by Halima Nabusimba, Angela Namilimu and Charlene Kalungi.But Nabulobi remained a terror with Flavia Okecho and Grace Amuren adding 12 points apiece to ensure maximum points.

Player of the game Nabusimba notched 20 points, while Judith Ngaju (10), Kalungi (8) and Joyce Zalwango (8) were all on target, but could not help their team win.The win takes the former champions to joint top position with Kampala City Council (KCC) Leopards who have 18 points.

At Lubili courts, Ramathan Busulwa made a game high 33 points and Nichol Sseguya added 16 as hosts Lubiri High registered a massive 74-44 beating of Family Planning Association of Uganda (FPAU).

NIGERIA : Warriors Eye Vmobile Basketball Title

With the Vmobile Basketball League play offs set to dunk off this Friday, Chief Coach of Dodan Warriors Basketball Club of Lagos Alexander Owoicho has declared their ambition is to lift the giant trophy at the end of the league.

Owoicho who guided the Warriors to finish second in the regular season in the Atlantic Conference said that the team and the entire technical crew will leave nothing for granted in their bid to lift the prestigious title.

According to Alexander Owoicho whose team has already intensified their preparation for the play-offs however confessed that it will not be easy for his team.

"It's going to be a big fight, but Warriors are prepared"

He assured that his team would not be carried away with the fact that they placed second at the end of the regular season, noting that they are well focused for the play offs.

13 July 2006

NIGERIA : Zenith Bank League: Elephant Girls, Delta Qualify

The Western Conference Play off for the Zenith Bank Female Basketball League ended yesterday in Akure with the First Bank team and Delta Force qualifying for the Final-8 Play off from that centre. The First Bank team expectedly won the contest from Akure but the Delta ladies who swept aside Dolphins to finish second became the surprise survival from that ‘Zone of Death.” The pre-tournament analyses was based on the teams’ perceived form before the championship began by the weekend. The two teams are joining Blue Angels and the Customs who booked the first two tickets from the Equatorial Conference qualifiers held in Asaba last week. Blue Angels are the Team B of First Bank. The Akure contest rounded off with two matches yesterday. In the first game, the conference winners confirmed class with the 82-47 defeat handed Delta Force of Asaba. The victory clearly marked out First Bank as the winner of the conference having won all four matches played. The second game ended 84-54 in favour of Dolphins against Oluyole Babes of Ibadan. It was a revival victory for Dolphins who lost out to Delta in a nerve wrecking encounter on Tuesday. Dolphins and Oluyole have finished as the best two losers and would therefore continue to the losers play off holding later in Abuja. Sunshine Angels and Dodan Amazons who secured the tickets from Asaba. The Bayelsa Queens having finished last on the table will drop to the Women Division one league from next season. The qualifying series will move to Bauchi from the 23rd for the Savannah Conference teams.

NIGERIA : Vmobile League: Lagos Schools in Play off Train

The play off series for the Vmobile Premier Basketball League billed to start tomorrow at the National Stadium, Lagos will take a different style as selected schools in Lagos and the environs will feature in the off court shows for the matches. And to this event 40 private and public schools in Lagos have specially invited by sponsors of the league Vmobile and the Nigeria basketball Federation (NBBF) to take part in the play off shows. “The play off will be followed by the final matches in Lagos. We hereby invite your school to participate in the Vmobile Basketball National premier League Play-offs and final games in view of the great interest and passion shown by your students for the game of basketball,” the letter to the schools reads in part. The schools were carefully selected from amongst those with serious basketball culture just as Vmobile explained that the invitation could be expanded to more schools in and outside of Lagos from next season. The students could feature in such side attractions as free throws and three pointers with quality prizes available for take home. “But the important thing is that there is something for every school; there is something for every student. The students will be well catered for so even for those who would not be able to take part in such free throws, there will be something to take home. They will be well entertained and their security well planned out,” a member of the organising team told THISDAY yesterday. Some of the schools invited include the Kings and Queens Colleges, the Lebanese Schools, Indian and Turkish schools, the Bells Ota and Maryland Comprehensive College. There are also Ronik College Ejigbo, Chrisland College Idimu, Corona schools and ADRAO in Victoria Island. The matches will hold through the weekend with the opening game between the Union Bank team and Ebun Comets. The top two teams from the Atlantic Conference will qualify for the national finals.

KENYA : KBF boss leaves for Burkina Faso

Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) chairman, Agina Wesonga, was due to jet out of the country on Wednesday to Burkina Faso to attend the Fiba-Africa Congress.

Agina said there will be issues affecting Kenya for discussion during the two-day meeting, including the participation of two Kenyan teams, KCB Lions and Kenya Ports Authority, in the Africa championships.

"Besides elections, Fiba-Africa will discuss the future of the both the national and club championships.

It will be a lively debate as it will chart the way forward for financially handicaped teams," he said.

In a similar development, KBF first vice-chairman, Henry Shihemi, will also travel to Japan later in the month for the two-day Fiba World Congress. It was not clear whether

former KBF chairman, Maurice Aluanga would contest a continental seat.

UGANDA : Power has been replaced by Kyambogo Warriors, along side Charging Rhinos, Marines and organisers Falcons.

By Aloysius ByamukamaKampala

MTN basketball giant side Sadolin Power will not participate in the third edition of Falcons Invitational event that tips off on July 25 at Lugogo Indoor Stadium.

The organisers Falcons Basketball Club said Power dishonoured the international rules by including non-legible players after failing to raise a team in last year's event.

Local basketball governing body (FUBA) and Falcons President Mr John Ssimbwa confirmed to Daily Monitor that the club is serving a one-year ban.

"They showed disrespect of regulations in the presence of a Fiba official, who ordered the ban," Ssimbwa said.

Power with then coach Peter Mubanda made a collection of players from Nkumba Marines and Kampala International University (KIU), defying the rules governing all fiba reorganised tournaments.

Mr. Arnand Sevaux, who had come to recommend the tournament as a Fiba regional qualifier, ordered Fuba to take serious action.Power has been replaced by Kyambogo Warriors, along side Charging Rhinos, Marines and organisers Falcons.

MAK Sparks, Kampala City Council (KCC) Leopards, Lady Bucks and local league queens and regional bronze medal winners A-I Challenge are the local ladies' teams.

Meanwhile, Kenya national men champions Ulinzi Warriors have confirmed their participation. Two men and women teams from Burundi, Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya and DR Congo are also expected.

12 July 2006

SEYCHELLES : Hot Shots and Pointe Larue Falcons hit century mark

HOT SHOTS moved to the top of the Women’s League table after hitting the century mark against Cadettes in a 100-26 win last Thursday at Victoria Gymnasium with the resumption of the second round of the championship.

With 13 points after seven wins and a defeat, Anse Boileau-based Hot Shots were expected to lose top spot yesterday as defending champions Anse Etoile Stars were to play Juniors.

The Stars went into yesterday’s match with 11 points, the same total as third-placed Bel Air.

Despite last Thursday’s loss, Cadettes remain fifth with eight points after having also taken to the court seven times.

They lead Juniors and Hackers who are occupying sixth and seventh positions with seven and four points respectively.

Mont Fleuri are the other team in the seven-team league and they are fourth with nine points after six games played.

Meanwhile, in the Men division 1B league, Beau Vallon Heat suffered another crushing defeat on a 46-100 score to Pointe Larue Falcons over the weekend to remain winless in seven matches and stay at the foot of the seven-team table.

The Heat played among the elites in local basketball until late last year and this season they are having a difficult time picking up the pieces following relegation to the Men division 1B.

Coach Valli Isamël’s team have also lost sharp-shooter Danny Bertin who has joined Men division 1A leaders Premium Cobras after having served a long-term ban.

In their seventh outing last Sunday, the Heat had two payers – J. Decommarmond (15 points including three 3-pointers) and C. Preira (12 points) – scoring in double digits, but they could not stop their team from losing, especially with Pointe Larue Falcons’ Kevin Sinon scoring a game-high 31 points.

J. Lawen added 19 points to finish as second best scorer for Pointe Larue Falcons who scored 25 points in each of the four quarters.

With the win, their sixth in seven games, last year’s Men’s second division winners Pointe Larue Falcons have climbed to the top of the Men division 1B league standings with 13 points.In the Men’s second division, Juniors are still leading the charge even after their defeat to LMS Jazz over the weekend.

The Jazz won 50-43 against the leaders but failed to take over at the top due to inferior basket difference. Both teams are locked on 15 points.

They are being closely followed by La Misère Chasers who outclassed Falcons Youth 72-58 to remain third on 14 points.

RA Herons got the better of Mont Fleuri Dawgz with a 51-48 victory to move into fourth position with 12 points, while the Dawgz remain sixth with 10 points.

ZAMBIA : ZBA scouts for K50m

THE Zambia Basketball Association (ZBA) is scouting for K50 million to send the Under 18 boy’s team to the Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted by South Africa at the end of the month.

In an interview yesterday, ZBA general secretary Mwembe Kaona said the Under 18 team’s participation in the tournament will be a good experience for the team.

“Their participation in the Africa Cup will help the players shape up in readiness for the 2011 All-Africa Games to be hosted by Zambia,” he said.

Kaona said the Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA) Africa granted Zambia an automatic entry to take part in the event because of the team’s impressive performance at the just-ended SADC Games in Windhoek.

He said he was happy with the invitation because it showed that Zambian basketball was being appreciated by the international motherbody.

“I am humbled by the invitation as it shows that the progress being made by the game in the country is being appreciated at international level,” Kaona said.Zambia minted silver at the SADC Games after winning four out of five fixtures.

The Under 18 Africa Cup Of Nations basketball tournament is scheduled for July 28- August 6 in Durban.Other countries expected to participate are Angola, Burkina Faso,Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea Conakry, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria and South Africa.

UGANDA : MTN hoops league 2nd round begins

THE MTN Basketball League second round tips off this evening after a two-week recess with two games on hand.

The league that was supposed to start last weekend was postponed due to contractual issues that were being settled between local hoops governing body, Fuba, and league sponsors MTN (U) Ltd.

Federation technical man Edmund Lumu confirmed to Daily Monitor that the league will resume today. "Everything is now done to let the league resume tomorrow (today). The games that were not played last weekend will be fixed at the end," Lumu said.

Third placed Lady Bucks visit Nabisunsa Girls for their opening round two encounter in Banda. The record league winners will be aiming for a win to keep their play offs hopes alive with new signings.

Former Nabisunsa students Sarah Namiro and Agatha Bafuna return against their former side, with stalwarts Miriam Birungi, Frances Nabulobi and Flavia Okecho available.

However, Nabisunsa's Charlene Kalungi, Joyce Zalwango and Halima Nabusimba have matured into the game and are expected to offer resistance. Elsewhere, Lubiri takes on Family Planning Association of Uganda (FPAU) in Division II.

NIGERIA : 12 Schools Confirmed for Milo Grand Finale

Twelve teams comprising six boys and six girls teams drawn from secondary schools across the country have now qualified to participate in the grand finale of this year's Nestle Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship which is expected to kick-off in Lagos this October.

Nestle Nigeria, the sponsors of the championship explained that given the company's passion for excellence and determination to develop basketball at the grassroots, the country was divided into six conferences from where one champion in each of the boys and girls categories have emerged.

At the end of the intra-state preliminaries on March 18, the conference finals kicked-off on June 1 with the Savannah conference in Kano where teams representing Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Katsina States vied for the grand finale tickets. The finals saw the teams from Sheikh Abubakar Gumi College, Kaduna State and Government Girls College, Gazawi, Kano State qualifying for the grand finale in the boys and girls categories respectively.

From the Sahara conference in Bauchi the teams from Government College, Maiduguri, Borno State and Government Girls College, Bauchi secured the grand finale tickets in the boys and girls categories respectively, at the expense of teams from Yobe, Taraba, Gombe, and Adamawa State.

It was a clean sweep by Benue State at the Central Conference in Abuja as the state representatives from Bristow Secondary School, and Queen of the Rosary Secondary School, Gboko played their way to the grand finale in the boys and girls categories.

Other States represented at the conference include Plateau, Nassarawa, Kogi, Kwara, Abuja, and Niger State.

At the Equatorial Conference, the boys of Community Secondary School, Kolo, Bayelsa State lifted the title in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, while Ikenegbu Girls Grammar School, Owerri, Imo State topped the girls category among other competing teams from Cross-River, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, and Abia states.The Fregene Gbugbemi tutored girls from Asaba Girls Grammar School made him proud as they secured the girls' grand finale ticket at the Atlantic Conference held in Asaba, Delta State. The boys of St. Thomas Basic Group of Schools, Benin-City, Edo State out-played their counterparts from Anambra, Ebonyi, Delta, and Enugu states to qualify from the conference for the male version.

The conference finals rounded-off with the Western Conference in Ibadan, Oyo State where Quine Unic College, Owode-Yewa, Ogun State and Yejide Girls Grammar School, Ibadan, Oyo State emerged champions at the expense of other representatives from Lagos, Ekiti, Osun, and Ondo State.

Expectations are now high for an explosive and highly entertaining grand finale, as the best teams from each of the six conferences will be on parade in Lagos come October.

11 July 2006

KENYA : KU Pirates stun regional champs KCB Lions in double

Kenyatta University "Pirates" put up a spirited fight and stunned East and Central Africa Club champions KCB Lions 83-82 in double overtime in a cracking Premier League tie at Nyayo National Stadium gynmnasium.The upbeat, who have taken the fight to the top guns lately played their hearts out and were on top in the first three quarters before KCB went ahead 45-44 in the last.In normal time, both teams were deadlocked 61-61 after Martin Obure failed to hit both free throws with 0:02 seconds left to play. He made one forcing the first OT to the delight of the small crowd.

The first extra time was again all drama. It was a stalemate as both teams struggled in vain to win the game.It was tied again 73-73 in the second before KU heroics started to show.

Griffin Ligare hit 21 points, Paul Ojuoga had 19 and Martin Obure 12 for KU who together with their vertan coach Gitau Waringo immediately swarmed the court in celebration after the final whistle sounded.

David Otiso hit 28, Greg Odera 19 and Ben Mureithi 14 before he limped off injured.Waringo said that his boys fighting spirit gave them this win that they deserved.

United States International University (USIU) blanked International Christian Center (ICC)87-74 in another match. Yoni Wanambiro scored 26 points while Abel Nson nailed 5 for USIU who led 41-33 a the break.

Yana were whipped 64-46 by Sprite Storms in a game that saw Hilda Luvandwa hit 19 points for the winners while Caroline Achieng managed 19 for the losers.

Telkom crushed University of Nairobi "Dynamites " 118-25 in aone sided demolition. Telkomled 60-9 at the breather and had Caroline Achieng posting 19 and Arato with 13.

KENYA : Sprite Storms Beat Yana to Reap Easy Points

By Caxton ApolloNairobi

Sprite Storms collected two maximum women's basketball Premier League points when they beat Yana Club 64-46 at Nairobi's Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday.

The low scoring first leg tie saw Storms struggle to take a narrow 9-4 first quarter advantage. Yana, who joined the competition this season, worked hard but squandered most of the scoring chances to trail 34-19 at half-time. On resumption, Yana erased a 21 point margin to close in at 39-45, but Storms still looked too smart for them.

Hilda Luvandwa, who damaged Yana, scored 19 points for Storms, with none of the Yana players replying in double figures. In another women's match, Caroline "Majeng" Achieng scored 19 points with Caroline Arato adding 13 points to lead Telkom to a huge 118-25 win over Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. Telkom had no opposition from the word go leading 60-9 at half-time.

In the men's Division One match, Telkom recovered from two consecutive loses to defeat Lomboritz 81-72. Telkom, who had crashed to Java Warriors and Don Bosco, looked organised from start to lead 36-27 at half-time. Morris Ochieng hit 20 points for Telkom while Melvin Onyang Oketch had 18 points and Anthony Onyango 17 for Lomboritz.

Nairobi Pentecostal Church beat Juja-based JKUAT 66-60 in their first leg tie of the men's Division One competition.

10 July 2006

NIGERIA : Zenith Bank League: Elephant Girls Take Lead

A 91-31 drill of Oluyole Babes of Ibadan yesterday gave the First Bank team the lead in the Western Conference of the Zenith Bank Female League which took the first jump ball for the 2006 season last week in Asaba. The Western Conference began their quest for places in the national final by the weekend in Akure. The First Bank ladies nicknamed the Elephant Girls opened their campaign on a quality note on Saturday with a 104-28 massacre of beginners Bayelsa Queens.The victory by the Elephant by the First Bank team who are also the reigning champions of the league paved the way for a good start and their leadership was confirmed by the mauling of Oluyole girls. How far that leadership would last on the table would be settled today with the opening game between them and Dolphins of Lagos whose proprietor and manager Wale Aboderin has declared that the Dolphins are very set for the Bankers. “We came not just to qualify but to qualify properly and in style. And from what we have seen on ground we are very capable of achieving that. Whatever results other team achieve between themselves don’t really bother us and this include the First Bank team. “We are very capable of beating them here and that is exactly what we are set to do tomorrow (today). For Delta Force, they are certainly not the kind of team that will stop from qualifying from here and all this we hope to achieve,” Aboderin said.First Bank and Dolphins played an exciting game last year in Abuja at the start of the Zenith Bank League and it was that victory by the Bankers that gave them the title. With First Bank, Dolphins and Delta Force in Akure centre, expert have correctly described the Conference as ‘Zone of Death’.Just before First Bank defeated Oluyole Babes, the Dolphins were first on the court and equally handed a resounding defeat to the Bayelsa Queens. Dolphins won that game 97-37 to set the stage for this afternoon epic battle with First Bank. Dolphins had a bye on the opening day of Saturday. Like the other centers, only two teams would qualify from Akure while the best two losers would get another chance at the losers’ centre billed for Abuja next month.

RWANDA : APR, BUG in liberation final

By Julius Mbaraga

APR and Basketball United Generation will head today, in this year’s Liberation Day basketball tournament at Amahoro indoor courts.

BUG made it to the finals after winning AGF and KIE while APR outclassed ESPOIR and Marine basketball clubs to book her place in today’s final. BUG’s Jean De Dieu Nizeyimana is optimistic to put an end to APR’s dominance.Nizeyimana’s squad has been boosted by the return of the duo; Emmanuel Niyonkora (center) and Bizimana (guard) who have been out of action because of injuries.Of the four meetings, between the two clubs this year, APR has won three with BUG only managing to win one.These statistics therefore, show that APR are favourites to lift this year’s Liberation Day tourney.However, APR’s Kenyan tactician, Cliff Owuor is concerned a lot about the absence of his inspirational center Blaise Nikobahoze who is in Burundi.He told Times Sport that, “The team is highly going to miss the services of Blaise who is in Burundi to attend to some personal issues.”Nikobahoze inspired APR to glory in the International Gisembe basketball tournament when he posted an individual 23 points for the army side.

NIGERIA : Zenith Bank: Blue Angels, Customs Goes through

Two Lagos based female basketball teams, Blue Angels basketball club and Nigeria Customs basketball have qualified for the final-8 of the Nigeria Women Club Championship sponsored by top Nigeria financial institution, Zenith Bank Plc.

The two teams placed first and second from the Asaba Equitorial conference of the championship which ended last Friday at the sports hall of the Asaba Township stadium in Delta State.

Blue Angels coached by former Nigeria senior national team captain, Sola Ogunade topped the conference with a maximum eight points winning all four games played while the border girls coached by national team coach, Scott Nnaji fought off stiff challenges poised by Sunshine Angels basketball club of Akure to placed second leaving the Andrew Isokphehi tutored Akure Angels' in the third spot.

The Blue Angels who managed a 56-51 points win over Dodan Amazons basketball club of Lagos in its opening game did not looked back afterward beating the Akure Sunshine Angels 71-58 points; defeated the Customs by 54-40 points in a very technical game before compounding the woes of Edo Queens of Benin 49-23 points to finish top of the conference.

The train move to Akure today (Sunday) where fans will be treated to top flight basketball action for the next five days as Elephant Girls begin her title defence against hard fighting Dolphins and Delta Force basketball clubs.

SEYCHELLES : Bertin joins Premium Cobras

BANNED until the end of the first round of the 2006 season, Danny Bertin will make his comeback in basketball with Premium Cobras.

Feared for his ability to knock down treys, the sharp shooter has decided to leave Beau Vallon Heat to join Men division 1A leaders Premium Cobras at the end of the first round transfer window.

It must be noted that Beau Vallon Heat were relegated from the Men division 1A league at the end of the 2005 season and without a win in six games, they are carrying the weight of the Men division 1B standings.

While Bertin has been brought in to add to Premium Cobras’ offensive strategy, Nigel Cafrine has decided to leave the leaders to join his former team SMB Razorback.

After making a name for himself with SMB Razorback, Cafrine joined Premium Cobras last year and although he had a strong start to the 2006 season, he saw himself playing a substitute role and with limited playing time in recent matches.Third in the top flight, SMB Razorback have also welcomed Karim César from PLS Hawks and Roger Baron from RC Dynamics.

Mervin Joubert has decided to leave Men division 1B side Bel Air Blazers to play for Mont Fleuri Dawgz in the Men division two.

As for John Philoé, he has left LMS Youth for LMS Jazz in the bottom division.

Four young female players have also changed allegiance. Vanessa Samynadin, Vanessa Dugasse, Anessa Rath and Annie Cedras have moved from Cadettes to Juniors.

SEYCHELLES : Omony voted All-Star MVP in Uganda

HIS future with PLS Hawks is not too clear but since he left for his homeland Uganda in April, all-rounder Stephen Omony has not returned.

A spokesperson for defending League and SBF Cup champions PLS Hawks told Sports Nation that “Omony is in Uganda to take care of some family business and he has told us that he will return to play for PLS Hawks.”

What is certain is that Omony remains active while back home as he participated in an All-Star match last weekend.HIS future with PLS Hawks is not too clear but since he left for his homeland Uganda in April, all-rounder Stephen Omony has not returned.Omony was voted the MTN All-Star Most Valuable Player (MVP) after last weekend’s All-Star gala at the YMCA courts in Kampala.

With 30 points, four dunks, 12 boards and five assists, Omony led his East team to an 82-65 victory over the West team.

Omony, a 6ft 3in forward, was playing in his first-ever All-Star skills showcase and he teamed up with Sam Obol, Louis Habineza (Falcons), Norman Blick, Ali Mzee (Nkumba-Marines) and Pascal Alule (Livingstone) on the East team.

Speaking to the Ugandan press, Omony said: “Being nominated to my first All-Star team appearance was a surprise, but the fact that I was later voted 2006 All-star MVP, has been a humbling experience.”

It must be noted that Omony joined PLS Hawks in 2001 from Ugandan side Falcons.

08 July 2006

UGANDA : Giants to clash at Falcons meet

By ALOYSIUS BYAMUKAMA KAMPALA THE third edition of the Falcons invitational tournament is slated for July 23-30 at Lugogo indoor Stadium. Falcons Athletics club president Mr. John Ssimbwa confirmed the date to Sunday Monitor and added that several regional teams have been invited.

The one-week tournament is expected to attract giant sides from Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi and Seychelles. Last year, Rwanda’s basketball club beat the then defending champions and hosts Falcons 100-83 in a thrilling final, to win the second edition title.

The Rwandese who were revenging the 2004 lost to the Ugandans are expected to come back with their traditional shooters Jean-Claude Bula, Badibanga Mputu and Karim Nkusi.

New Star (Burundi) and Steven Omony’s PLS Hawks (Seychelles) finished 3rd and 4th respectively. Uganda’s league giants Lady Bucks retained the women title with a 48-41 win over local league queens A-I challenge.

Meanwhile, Falcons have stepped up preparations ahead of the tournament. “It was absurd to have lost our own crown and therefore, we are looking at how we can take our game to another level,” Eric Malinga said yesterday.

The club has been boosted by the return of Tony Oluka whose working responsibilities in Masindi have seen him out of action for the entire first round of the MTN league.

ZAMBIA : Kaona Happy With U-20 Basketball Side's Show

By Namatama NjekwaLusaka

ZAMBIA Basketball Association (ZBA) general secretary Mwembe Kaona has commended the Under 20 Basketball boy's team for putting up a good performance at the just ended Zone six SADC games in Windhoek Namibia.

And Kaona said the girls basketball team's bad performance is a lesson to the association. In an interview, Kaona said the boys' performance during Zone six SADC games was encouraging.

"We are very pleased with the performance of Under 20 basketball team. They have given us hope for the future engagements," he said.

Kaona said the boys' team was advantaged because of the league experience.

"Boys like Given Kalipinde plays for NAPSA Hurricanes, Mate Lisimba from Barclays Magic and Francis Lungu for LCC Looters who had an average of one and half season experience in the ZBA league," he said.

He said because of the performance exhibited by the junior teams, the association's vision to qualify for their first ever appearance at the All Africa games 2007 and senior Africa Cup of Nations 2009 was a sure reality.And Kaona said the association was not disappointed with the girls' team because of the factors that worked against them like putting the team late.

"The lesson for us therefore is that for next years games, early preparations are a must and so we will start our selection this year so that we widen our options," he explained. Kaona said most of the girls who were taking part in the SADC games were still learning the basics.

He added that the association should have cast the nets wider because their options were limited to a few teams and that time was not with them.

07 July 2006

NIGERIA : Zenith League: Blue Angels Beat Custom, Qualify

The battle of league leaders was fought yesterday in Asaba in Game 8 of the Equatorial Conference in the Zenith Female Basketball League as the Nigeria Customs engaged the Blue Angels. The Blue Angels certainly had more than enough help from above as they over powered the Customs and their defenses with a 54-40 victory. The game played on the fourth day of the championship was advertised as the one to decide the leadership structure and it turned out so as the victory has given the Blue Angels the number position for that zone. The Blue Angels are the second team of the First Bank's Elephant Girls squad. The Custom coach Scott Nnaji told reporters after the game yesterday that he was okay with the position of his team. "The important is to qualify for the final plays and that is our concern. Whether we finish first or second here is purely secondary. At the play off in Lagos we'll meet again and everyone has the real opportunity to take the best position," Nnaji said. The game was the most highly contested in the tournament so far. The result has given the Blue Angels a berth for the Lagos final even with one game at hand. The other team to the final from this zone would be determined today when the Customs face the Sunshine Angels of Akure. Both team have won two games and lost one each to the same Blue Angels. The winner of their clash automatically gets the second direct slot to the finals. Just as the Blue ladies celebrated yesterday, the Dodan Amazons smiled also as they secured their first victory. They defeated Edo Queens 52-51 in the battle of the under dogs. The result also means that the Edo team could leave Asaba without winning a game. The only game left for them is against the league leaders, Blue Angels and would take more than miracle to beat the Angels.

UGANDA : FUBA calls off second round league action

By ALOYSIUS BYAMUKAMAKampala

THE Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (FUBA) has postponed all the second round league games that were to be played this weekend at various courts.Federation technical man Mr. Edmund Lumu confirmed yesterday that the games would not be played.

"We are unable to start then second round this weekend because of unavoidable circumstances and we are yet to meet and fix a tentative date,” Lumu said.

However, MTN Public Relations Officer Ms. Tina Byaruhanga told Daily Monitor that the postponement comes because MTN and FUBA are still sorting out some contractual matters.

NIGERIA : Zenith League: Sunshine Go Down to Blue Angels

By Pius AyinorLagos

The sun practically took a break with Sunshine Angels of Akure yesterday in Asaba on Day Three of the 2006 Zenith Female Basketball League. The Angels of the sun type went down 71 - 58 to obviously superior brand of angels - the Blue Angels. It was first game of the day.

The loss, though, still leaves the Sunshine ladies on top of the table with five points having won two games earlier. It appears it may be temporary as their off day today may give the Blue Angels and Customs a leeway to take upper positions on the table.

Before the Blue Angels and Sunshine stepped out yesterday, the fans of the Akure based team were hopeful as the Blue ladies only managed a five-point victory over Dodan Amazons whom the Sunshine team over ran. But it all turned out mere hopes as Blue Angels held forth through the four quarters of the match yesterday.

In the second game of the day, Customs flogged Dodan Amazons 63-38 to set up a serious clash with Blue Angels today.With yesterday gone bye the games today are of real battles. Edo Queens and Dodan Amazons will play the first game at 2.00pm in a match of the down trodden. Both teams have lost all matches played and should clearly count on this encounter as the only one that can give them the full points. Both teams are rated below the other three and no expert has been able to make a clear prediction concerning the possible outcome of the game.

The match between the Customs and Blue Angels will possibly decide the winner of the Equatorial Conference as both teams are the top team teams and have maintained that posture by winning the games played so far.

The last time both teams met was in the Zenith league play off series held in Abuja last year. The Customs won that game which eventually gave them the third spot overall behind First Bank and Dolphins of Lagos.

04 July 2006

UGANDA : Power to open second round with Miracle

THE MTN basketball league second round tips off on Saturday, July 8 with title contenders Sadolin Power and top challengers Miracle facing off at the YMCA courts.

Power had a devastating round one finish with a 59-47 loss to table leaders Falcons, the result that pushed them down to fourth place at 15 points behind Warriors and Marines.The 2000 league champions and last season' s finalists will be out to close in to secure the play offs slot.

Miracle however had a last smile of the round with a 62-55 win over Charging Rhino, which pushed them to two places above the relegation zone.Power has had an upper hand over the Lubaga based side and the first round meeting went to Andrew Bazira's boys with a 83-60 score for a third straight win over Miracle.

Wilbrod Okecho, Ken Balyejusa, Isaac Mawiwi, Allan Tawodda and Marvin Keronga will be out to check the speed of James Kirabo, Ben Komakech, and Chris Kyebambe to maintain their play offs chess as Miracle battle relegation.

KIU will play Livingstone in another relegation battle, while former champions Lady Bucks open against Amazon.

NIGERIA : Milo: Oyo, Ogun teams pick last Milo tickets

Yejide Girls Grammar School, Ibadan, Oyo State and Quine Unic College, Owode-Yewa, Ogun State at the weekend picked the last two tickets for the Nestle Milo Secondary Schools’ Basketball Championship national final slated for Lagos in October.

Interestingly, both Oyo and Ogun gained their qualification at the expense of Lagos State teams that would have had the privilege of playing at home in the national final.

Oyo State girls outscored their opponents, Lagos Comprehensive College, Maryland, 24 – 15 in the final played at the Liberty Stadium Indoor Sports Hall last Saturday.

However, the boys’ final was keenly contested from the beginning to the end. Ogun took an early lead against the Ifako International Secondary School, Agege, Lagos boys, but both teams ran neck-to-neck in the last quarter with Ogun winning by 44 – 42 points.

Adebisi Omotosho, the Ogun State boys’ captain said the victory was no fluke, promising that the state will create further surprises when hostilities begin at the grand finale in lagos later in the year.

Nestle Nigeria Plc’s Regional Sales Manager, West, Kola Alimi commended the players for the high standard they displayed, and pledged the company’s further sponsorship of the championship.

Prizes including cash and materials were distributed to the winners and other participants.

The final was graced by dignitaries including the championship’s National Coordinator, Col. Sam Ahmedu (rtd) and Commander Lawal Abdullahi of Federal Road Safety Corps, Ibadan.

NIGERIA : Sunshine, Amazons Take to Court

Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has released fixtures for the Zenith Bank Female Basketball League which dunk off today (Monday) at the Equatorial Conference centre, Asaba, Delta State.

Five teams participating at the three conferences will play a round robin game to produce top 2 into the final play-offs of 8 teams to be completed with two winners from the loser's conference.

On the opening day at the Equatorial conference scheduled to run from July 3-7, Sunshine and Amazons will spark up hostility at the Indoor Sports Hall of Asaba, while Customs take on Edo Queens as Blue Angels are draw bye.

It will be the turn of Blue Angels to take on Amazons and Sunshine versus Edo Queens on the 4, while Customs drawn bye.

The last game of the conference will feature Sunshine vs. Customs, Blue Angels vs. Edo Queens while Amazons are drawn bye.

The Western Conference games in Akure will hold from July 8-12 where Delta Force will lock horns with Oluyole Babes on the opening day and Elephant Girls take on Bayelsa Queens with Dolphins drawn bye.

SNBA committee member Barney Maphanga said they would soon select the final team of 25 players. Maphanga said they would continue hosting more selection tournaments when the schools re-open for the second term.

“We are still to select some of the players who might have been left out this time. Schools like Waterford and Sifundzani were left out during the selection and we want to give them a chance.

We were impressed with the players’ individual skills during the tournament, hence they qualified to be selected to the team.

Once we have picked the final team, we will make arrangements that the players train together so that they get to know each other,” he said.

SWAZILAND : Poor turnout grounds basketball league

THE Swaziland National Basketball Association (SNBA) is disappointed with the poor attendance of teams in a tournament held at the Coronation Park on Saturday.

Only five teams were in attendance, whilst SNBA had expected eight to register for their league which is scheduled to start month end.

League Secretary Wandile Lokotfwako said they were not happy about the apparent failure to register the teams because they are itching to kick-start the league as soon as possible.

"Last year we failed to play our league and by the look of things this year will be no exception. We want to start playing notwithstanding that we still do not have a sponsor, as we will sort that at a later stage," he said.

Lokotfwako said they would only be able to start the league after six teams had registered.

However, the tournament that was scheduled to take place continued unabated.

SWAZILAND : Waterford is schools champion

BASKETBALL - WATERFORD College were crowned champions of the Basketball Schools tournament in both girls and boys games held at the Coronation Park on Saturday.

Waterford walloped St. Michael's 24 - 14 in the finals of the girls section and also beat St. John Bosco 33 - 27 in the finals of the boys section.

They went home with two floating trophies. Their good performance comes after a one-week workshop held by the Concrete Hooks from London at the College last month.

In the girls section waterford qualified for the finals after beating St. Marks' 12 -1 during the quarter finals. St. Mark's failed to impress throughout the match and they scored their point in the last round. During the finals Waterford reinforced with a strong squad giving St. Michael's no room.

Waterford players, who showed great skills throughout the game, included the likes of Charlotte Legoabe, Zama Lekoma and Judy Reissman. St. Michael's tried in vain to strike back with the pair of Zandile Nkambule and Nolungelo Maseko but all efforts proved fruitless. In the boys section Waterford was once beaten by Bahai 22-12 during the robin round games but then Bahai failed to qualify for the finals as they were thrashed by Bosco 28-25.

Schools that participated in the boys section were Waterford, Bosco, St. Francis, Bahai, St. Mark's, Salesian and St. Christopher's.

In the girls section only four schools showed, up and these were Waterford, St. Michael's, St. Mark's and St. Anne's.

The organiser of the tournament Nathi Simelane, said they were not happy with the turnout as they had expected many more schools.

UGANDA : All Stars show skill

By ALOYSIUS BYAMUKAMA

WANDEGEYA

All stars resultsMenYellow Max East 82 West 65WomenEast 22 West 20

IT was all cerebration and jubilation at the YMCA courts on Saturday as the Ugandan basketball stars lined up for the 2006 MTN All-Stars winners' cash.Professional stars Norman Blick and Steven Omony featured for the Yello Max East side and played their hearts out in the side's 82-65 win of the 0.5m prize money at stake from MTN.

Together with Henry Malinga, Guy Rutaistire, Louis Habineza, Salim Ali, Pascal Alule, Simon Otine and Boniface Okello, the team proved too strong against the Yello Max West end that had Steven Okias, Brian Gumisiriza, Ronnie Kasewu and Chris Kyebambe.

The women's winners' cash went to the East side after a 22-20 triumph over the Western pool. The likes of Becky Akullo, Frances Nabulobi, Flavia Okecho, Florence Kalume and Miriam Hamala tussled it out against the likes of Ali Mavita, Carol Mugasha, Aisha Nalumansi and eventual MVP Viola Akuma.

The men's Yello Go West also won the money prize after beating the East side 75-65 in a game that exhibited a lot of skill, while the Division II Western side also walked away with Shs0.2m after beating their counterparts with a single basket in a 75-73 score.

All participants won themselves airtime from the sponsors MTN Uganda who dished out Shs2,100,000.Meanwhile, the second round of the national MTN basketball league is set to start on July 8 with several matches on card.

BOTTSWANA : Flames Hope for Better Performance

By Mogomotsi MoloiFrancistown

Marvin Griffith, chairman and senior player for Flames Basketball Club has expressed hope that his team would perform better this weekend when they host M. Club and Sonics respectively at BDF Donga camp courts.

He told Mmegi Sport yesterday that the team is doing extremely well though this is its first time in the elite league. The Francistown boys are eighth in the 16-team league and this gives them hope for better things to come. "This weekend's games are going to be a bit tough but we would try our best. We have been preparing very well for the whole of this week," Griffith said.

Though he admits that their opponents have been in the game for a long time, he says this is no big deal as current form is what counts. He added that he had been impressed by the overall performance of his boys so far. He is optimistic of building a very strong side. Since the league started, Flames have been blowing hot and cold air but Griffith feels that eventually, they would end in a better position when the competition ends in mid July. "Probably we would go for the top eight tournament if we could maintain the same performance," he said.

In other games billed for this weekend Splinters of BDF Don ga lock horns with Eagles before they take M. Club. During the Sir Seretse Khama Day on Monday, Flames would again have to prove their worth in the league when they take on Cadets at SSKB courts. The game is expected to produce fire works because Cadets would not like to be embarrassed by novices. On the other hand Flames are out to prove a point. Cadets are one of the dominant teams in local basketball.

At the SSKB on Monday, Falcons clash with BDF V. In the last fixture of the long weekend, Police V take on Sonics. Flames have sent a stem warning to all their opponents this weekend that they would be spitting fire.